Letters to the Editor: Views on April 4 election

Vote April 4 — it's your responsibility

For more than a month, I’ve had a Barry Nelson sign on my frozen tundra. Now, I have a Barry Nelson sign AND a Justin Nickels sign on my lawn. I know both men and I respect them. Barry asked me first; Justin asked me second, ergo two signs, one vote.

Displaying both signs reflects me the voter and citizen, and as an old soldier, I believe in what’s best for Manitowoc, not political party. Do I vote to stay the course with Mayor Nickels, or to change direction by voting for Nelson?

I met Barry first, Rotary. As a Rotarian, I know our mission is “Service above Self.” We’ve raised funds, 100 percent invested in supporting our community. He is a member of Noon, me morning Sunrise. Barry is a retired Army Master Sergeant and his achieving the rank of a senior sergeant speaks well of him, as does his leadership in Rotary. Barry is an experienced small businessman in downtown Manitowoc. He knows the issues. I consider him a friend and comrade.

Mayor Nickels' two terms have taught him valuable lessons which included some hard experience, especially with the Mirro fiasco. That’s still high on this taxpayer’s list! I got to know Nickels when I initiated the Red Arrow Park project. He was — and is — a big supporter of the park. He knows the issues; he’s been living them. I, too, consider him a friend.

My intent is not to argue for either candidate, but offer that the election for mayor is in many ways more important than governor or president. We live here and what happens here affects all of us.

Manitowoc has two good candidates! We must decide who will best lead and grow our community.

Listen, read, and decide, and then VOTE April 4. It is your right and comes with responsibility!

Ed HansenManitowoc

Time to try something new in mayor's office

Justin Nickels has been in office eight years. Since then, we’ve seen taxes go up every year he’s been in office, except one. Major businesses that fueled the economy are leaving, the destruction of the Mirro building left half completed, roads backlogged for completion.

You may be saying that he’s done an excellent job by paying down our debt. Actually, you have the City Council to thank for that one. I know — because I was on the council at the time. In 2011, Nickels presented the council with a budget that had a multi-million structural deficit that attempted to raid funds from a reserve account that didn’t even have enough money to cover the deficit. The council worked overtime to put together a difficult, but responsible, budget that set us on the path to the debt reduction for which the mayor is currently taking credit. The mayor refused to sign that budget because he didn’t support it.

Nickels is a very charismatic, ambitious young man. He just has bitten off more than he can chew. His qualifications are limited not only by his age, but by his lack of real-world life experiences outside of politics. Politics is not meant to be a career. Professional politicians are paralyzed by a need to get re-elected, which means at election time we see a flurry of credit-taking and ambitious plans, but precious little once the votes are counted and they’re safe for another four years.

Luckily, his opponent is the complete opposite. Barry Nelson has a vast amount of qualifications and experiences to bring our city to the future it deserves. Barry has dealt with multi-million-dollar budgets, served on public and private boards, led troops, and operated successful small businesses. I think it’s time to try something new.

Collin BraunelManitowoc

Impression following mayoral forum

What I heard at one of the initial mayor forums: Mayor Justin Nickels answering questions and explaining city government succinctly, and barry Nelson chest-thumping.

We traveled the world from the former Yugoslavia, the Middle East to Hawaii, and I wondered if we were ever going to land in Manitowoc; heard about real estate purchases across the United States; my wife and I paid for a mural downtown.

As they say, thank you for your service, and perhaps a gigantic "you're welcome" will be forthcoming to those taxpayers at home for what the military afforded you, while they were feeding, clothing, educating, sheltering and seeking affordable health care for their families.

Patty MarquardtManitowoc

Justin Nickels will shepherd city to prosperity

Whose experience do we need to shepherd the city back to prosperity?

We don’t need the experience of anyone who has pursued unsuccessfully multiple political offices at different levels of state government, desperate for personal power and achievement, hungering for more taxpayer-funded salaries and benefits, more personal prestige.

We need the experience of someone who grew up in this community, worked in this community, maybe even bagged groceries in this community. We need someone who could have gone anywhere and done anything, but who chose to stay and fight.

We are not a community of jetsetters, hopping the globe, frantically reminding everyone of our money and connections. We are not a community of snobs and tastemakers, looking down our noses at those who, by circumstance or choice, work with their hands in our stores and factories.

We are a community of cashiers and hairdressers, factory workers and teachers, servers and laborers. We are a community that recognizes that everyone has a role to play, from the mayor to the street sweepers. We are a community that believes that just as the best days of our past were born right here at home from the strength and ingenuity of Manitowoc’s own citizens, our future successes will be made in Manitowoc.

The person whose experience we need is Justin Nickels, a made-in-Manitowoc candidate who has dedicated his life and career to this city and who continues to fight to bring our community into the 21st century. Nickels has a vision of a better Manitowoc that is rooted in his faith in the unique spirit and character of our city and its citizens. Vote Nickels on April 4, and bring that brighter future one step closer to reality.

Nicholas MohlmannManitowoc

Vote for Barry Nelson

As I enter the last few weeks of my term on the Manitowoc City Council, I have some fond memories and accomplishments to reflect upon. I’ve had the privilege of representing an incredible constituency and a fantastic community. I will be forever grateful for the honor provided to me over the last eight years.

I became involved in the city’s business because I thought I had better ideas and I wanted to help my city. I believe there are others now with fresh ideas and that same desire to help Manitowoc, that’s why I have no regrets stepping aside.

I see similarities in my political interest to that of mayoral candidate Barry Nelson. This is a man who has dedicated his life to first serving his country and now his adopted community. I’ve gotten to know a man who has picked Manitowoc from a world of options because he thought so highly of us and what our city could be. If you are honest with yourself, you can really learn a lot from an outside set of eyes. I believe Barry has already made more of a personal investment and commitment to Manitowoc than our current mayor, who’s held office for 12 years.

It’s been documented over these 12 years that our current mayor has always striven to be a politician. That may seem admirable to some, but I believe in citizen representation, by an individual who has goals and ideas how he can hit the ground running, without needing eight years to begin working on his plan. When someone’s entire future is based on retaining the elected job they hold, they’re no longer working for the community, they’re working for themselves.

Justin Nickels up to the challenge

In my many years involved in local politics, I have seen and been a part of numerous things that have affected our community. I have also worked with plenty of people who have not only wanted what was best for our city, but who have put themselves out there as leaders. One of those people is Justin Nickels.

Since being elected to the Common Council in 2005, Nickels has been involved in all aspects of city government, and when he became mayor in 2009, he took the leadership reigns of a city that was at a crossroad.

In all honesty, I was skeptical that a 22-year-old would be effective as a leader of a city our size, and I was vocal about that. But I soon changed my thinking after seeing him face and take on the many obstacles that he had to hurdle early in his first term. It is disappointing that some are using this poor excuse eight years later after Justin has proved that age did not affect his ability to be an effective leader.

Throughout the years, Justin and I have stood together on many things. We have been adversaries when we could not agree, and even as opponents in his first mayoral election. In the end, I consider him a personal friend, and more importantly, a friend for the families of Manitowoc. We are at a crossroad again, and I can’t think of anyone who is more up to the challenge of leading our city. I encourage you to vote for Justin Nickels Tuesday, April 4.

Jim BreyManitowoc County Board ChairmanAlderman, Manitowoc Common Council

Be constructively involved April 4

What is the role of government?

That question was posed to the candidates for the Common Council at the recent League of Women Voters Forum. The philosophical answer is that government was created by the people being governed to protect their natural rights.

The practical answer is that government provides a means for people to unite and cooperate for a better, more secure, and meaningful life. It provides a vehicle for groups of people to get demanding jobs done. Unfortunately, the residents of a community are seldom in agreement as to what demanding jobs the government should undertake.

The common council acts as an arena in which ideas are “kicked around,” changed and modified, and decisions are finally made with the best interest of the community in mind. The ideas usually originate with the mayor, department heads, committees and commissions and aldermen. However, in a democratic society, every member of the community is free to offer their thoughts and suggestions with a goal to improve the community.

The proper procedure is to use the mayor, aldermen and committees/commissions as the conduit to the arena. Constructive criticism is always welcomed if properly presented.

As a candidate for alderman, I wholeheartedly agree. It must be noted, however, that thoughts and suggestions may be rejected by the arena as not practical, possible or affordable. This, too, is democracy.

On April 4, every voter in the City of Manitowoc will have the most efficient and constructive opportunity available to promote their thoughts, ideas and suggestions. The general election will provide the voters with the means to have their voices heard, register their views and opinions, and turn their ideas into plans for Manitowoc’s future. Please don’t pass up this opportunity to be constructively involved.

Dennis SteinbrennerManitowoc

Unqualified support for Bob Dewane

I am writing to express my unqualified support for Bob Dewane for the Branch 3 seat on the Manitowoc County Circuit Court.

As a fellow attorney, I have known Bob since 2003, when my family moved to Manitowoc. I value Bob as a professional contemporary and feel fortunate to have worked beside him on two highly complex matters: an attempted homicide/kidnapping case and a case with a charge of first-degree intentional homicide.

Through my professional dealings with Bob, it is clear to me that he has the experience and the judgment to make an outstanding circuit court judge for Manitowoc County. Bob possesses a high level of personal integrity, which is critical when one is presiding over matters that are high stakes not only for the involved parties, but also for society in general. Even so-called simple misdemeanor matters require a judge that understands the nuances of criminal law. Bob’s background in private practice, coupled with his tenure as an assistant district attorney, make him uniquely qualified in this election.

When my family moved to Appleton in 2013, I knew there would be plenty to miss about living in Manitowoc. Right now, I very much regret that I will not be able to cast a ballot for Robert Dewane for Circuit Court.

Tim GearyAppleton

Patricia Koppa best choice for judge

I have known Patricia Koppa for more than 20 years. For the past 19 years, we have volunteered together in support of local Girl Scouting, first with our own daughters, and after they aged out, with local troops in need of leaders. Patricia is a person of intelligence, integrity and empathy. All of these personal traits will make her an outstanding circuit court judge.

As a Girl Scout leader and mentor, Patricia is a role model to many. Patricia has worked with girls ranging from 5 to 18 years of age of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Regardless of these diversities, whether working with girls, parents or leaders, Patricia listens intently, considers all points of view and brings together diverse perspectives to settle matters fairly. All who are lucky enough to know her have witnessed her ability to apply her great knowledge with great consideration.

Patricia has dedicated her professional and personal time to the greater community of Manitowoc County. When discussing controversial topics, she is always looking to understand the various perspectives seeking common ground. Patricia is the best choice for circuit court judge. Please remember to vote for Patricia Koppa April 4.